As the name suggests, jewelry trends during the Victorian era were established by Queen Victoria. Her reign spanned over six decades, which allowed her to have a significant influence on jewelry design. The Industrial Revolution brought about a rise in the country’s middle class during this period, and commoners were able to purchase jewelry. Today, many individuals want Victorian jewelry of their own, and the Museum of Jewelry can be of help in getting these pieces.
Three Periods of the Victorian Era
Queen Victoria serves among the world’s longest-serving monarchs. As a result, historians have divided the era into three distinct periods. The Romantic period came first, followed by the Grand period. The Aesthetic period rounded out the Victorian era, and each period has its own distinct jewelry style.
The Romantic Period
The Romantic period took place between 1837 and 1861. People saw it as a time of joy and new beginnings. She ascended the throne and married Prince Albert, the love of her life. Queen Victoria gave birth to nine kids during her marriage. At the same time, she oversaw her country and ushered in an era known for artistic and scientific progress.
As one would expect, romantic jewelry dominated this period. People wore gemstones in bright colors, gold filigree, and floral motifs. They saw these as symbols of the good fortune shared in the monarch’s marriage and the economic growth of the empire. Snakes were commonplace symbols in jewelry, as Prince Albert gifted Queen Victoria with a serpent ring as her engagement ring.
Other popular pieces during this time included cameos and lockets. Women often wore brooches and large bracelets, and many pieces contained the word Mizpah, which means watchtower in Hebrew. Lovers who were forced to be apart would exchange Mizpah pieces as a symbol of their bond.
The Grand Period
Prince Albert became ill and remained that way for two years preceding his death. When he passed, the Romantic period came to an abrupt end. Queen Victoria went into mourning and never recovered from his loss.
Those in mourning would wear black clothing following the death of a loved one, and Queen Victoria followed this tradition. Jet, fossilized coal, and black onyx were used to make jewelry during this period, and some pieces contained seed pearls, seen as a symbol of one’s tears.
Many people traveled the world during this period in history. This led to a time of revivalism. Jewelry reminiscent of the Renaissance increased in popularity, and many people started wearing designs inspired by the Egyptian and Etruscan cultures.
Thanks to the increase in wealth seen in Great Britain, many people donned pieces adorned with precious metals and gemstones. This included blue sapphires from Montana, Australian opals, and South African diamonds. The discovery of gold in California led to more pieces being made with this metal, and jewelry became more affordable for the common man. Similar pieces may be purchased at https://store.museumofjewelry.com.
The Aesthetic Period
The Aesthetic period occurred between 1880 and 1901. Transition was the hallmark of this period, as the queen was aging. People began looking to her children for fashion trends. For instance, people began to acquire equestrian jewelry after seeing Victoria’s son Edward wearing these pieces. Nevertheless, they didn’t ignore Queen Victoria. The Diamond Jubilee was a celebration of 60 years of her reign, and this event led to an increase in the popularity of diamond and silver jewelry.
Social changes played a role in jewelry trends during this period. Workers had more leisure time, and women were gaining their independence. Smaller Edwardian pieces overtook large Victorian jewelry with people. To learn more about these pieces and purchase similar styles, visit https://store.museumofjewelry.com/pages/about-the-museum.
The Victorian era saw significant change and progress. Jewelry from this period in history reflects these changes. Furthermore, they paved the way for the 20th century and its drastic swings in design and style.
About The Museum of Jewelry:
The Museum of Jewelry keeps the hand-crafted arts alive. Every museum item for sale serves as an original work of art, one handmade by master artisans from historical designs.
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